Bermuda Grass (Scutch Grass): Facts, How To Grow & Care

Overview

Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a highly variable sod forming perennial that spreads by stolons, rhizomes and seed. It establishes readily in many different types of soil and environmental conditions. It is used in warm regions around the word as a lawn and pasture grass and for golf greens. It is considered an invasive species in Bermuda and various other places outside its native range.  Bermuda grass is naturalized throughout warmer regions of the United States and was introduced during the colonial period from Africa and Mediterranean region.

Bermuda grass usually is 10 to 40 cm (4 to 16 inches) tall and has short flat leaves. The spikelets are borne in four or five slender spikes at the tips of the upright stems. Bermuda grass may be planted from either seed or sprigs and with intensive management will provide a high quality turf. When compared to other type of grasses, Bermuda grasses have more disease resistance, greater turf density, better weed resistance, fewer seedheads, finer and soft texture and a more favorable color.

Grass Profile

Facts About Bermuda Grass

1. Bermuda grass is a warm season perennial species adapted to tropical and subtropical climates. It grows best under extended periods of high temperatures, mild winters and moderate to high rainfall.
2. Blades of natural Bermuda grass are thick and flat.
3. Bermuda grass makes the best growth where average daily temperatures are above 75oF. Optimum daytime temperatures for this grass are between 95oF and 100oF.
4. Bermuda grass has a fibrous, perennial root system with vigorous, deep rhizomes. Soil temperature above 65oF is required for significant growth of rhizomes, roots and stolons.
5. Roots of Bermuda grass are produced at the nodes after new leaves or tillers are produced during the growing season and after new shoots are produced in the spring.
6. Mature roots are yellow to brown while new roots are white. Mature roots deteriorate throughout the growing season and new roots are produced continuously.
7. The roots and rhizomes of Bermuda grass continue to grow several weeks after the leaves and stems stop growth.
8. Bermuda grass is well suited to high traffic areas such as sport fields, golf courses fairways, playgrounds, roadsides, cemeteries, lawns and parks.
9. Bermuda grass grows well on a wide variety of soils from heavy clays to deep sands, provided fertility is not limiting. It tolerates both acidic and alkaline soil conditions and is highly tolerant to saline conditions.
10. Bermuda grass has the characteristic of producing seedheads under stress conditions such as drought.
11. Bermuda grass has a high light requirement and does not grow well under low light (shaded) conditions. Increased light intensity and day length increase rhizome, stolon and leaf growth in Bermuda grass.
12. In warm frost-free climates, Bermuda grass remains green throughout the year, but growth is significantly reduced at the onset of cool nights.
13. Bermuda grass is categorized among the five most troublesome weeds in sugarcane, cotton, corn and vineyards. It is a difficult weed to eradicate because of its seed production and deep rhizomes.

Also Read: Different Types of Ornamental Grasses

How To Plant Bermuda Grass From Seeds

Site Selection

Bermuda grass is highly tolerant to direct sunlight and therefore should be planted in an area that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight. The planting site should also be having a moist and well-draining soil. Well-draining soil is essential for successful growth and development of mature healthy turf.

Soil PH is also another important factor in as far as selection of your planting site is concerned.  Generally, Bermuda grass tolerates both acidic and alkaline soil conditions and is highly tolerant to saline conditions. However it grows and thrives perfectly in slightly acidic soils of PH 5.5-6.0, if the soil in your planting area is highly acidic (lower PH), you can increase the PH by liming the soil or by application of lawn starter fertilizer prior to planting.

 Preparation Of Planting Site

Preparation of the planting site is very important in growing robust Bermuda grass. The first thing is to clear the site of any weeds and other types of grasses which will rob off the Bermuda moisture and nutrients.  You can pull the unwanted vegetation from the site with your hand or use a hand rake. Well, avoid use of herbicides or weed killer chemicals during the preparation of the site.

Now till the area to be planted. This can be done with a garden tiller, a tractor harrow/tiller or even a shovel. Once the area has been tilled, level the ground by raking or dragging something over the surface to remove hills and depressions.

Planting

Bermuda grass is a warm season turf grass and is best planted in spring to late spring or early summer. Plant Bermuda grass seeds when the soil temperatures are consistently above 65oF (18oC), this soil temperature is usually reached when the daytime air temperatures are above 80oF.

Once the area smooth and level, you can now plant the seeds. You can use a commercial turf grass planter, seed spreaders, hydroseeding or sow the seeds by hand broadcasting. Once the seeds are sowed, rake or drag the seeded area so that as many seeds as possible are lightly covered by the soil. The seeds should be covered (1/8 to ¼ inch).

Watering will also be another important aspect for the germination of the seeds. Soil moisture around the seed must be maintained for about 1 to 3 weeks. You will need to water the planting site sparingly every day until the seeds germinate.  Bermuda grass has a very good seedling vigor. Under ideal conditions, germination should begin 7 to 10 days. After the first seedling germination, you will need to allow 14 to 18 days for complete germination of the remaining seeds.

How To Make Bermuda Grass Thicker, Greener And Lush

Fertilizing

Just like other plants, Bermuda grass too requires fertilizer application; it grows perfectly well with a steady, consistent amount of fertilizer applied throughout the growing season. Use a complete lawn fertilizer that contains a slow release form of nitrogen. Most major brands of lawn fertilizer will have a combination of soluble and granular slow release forms of nitrogen fertilizer.

For liquid soluble fertilizers you can apply using a fertilizer sprayer whereas for granular fertilizer you can apply using fertilizer spreader or a hand held spreader. Apply at the rate of 1.5 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet.  Always be careful not to apply excess fertilizer.  If you apply more than the recommended amount, your lawn will not be any darker green, it will only grow faster and you will have to mow more often.

The best time to apply fertilizer is after the danger of frost has passed and your lawn is at least 50% green. Depending on the particular year, this is usually in mid-March to mid-April. You can again apply the fertilizer in the mid-summer (early July) and early fall (early September), but this time round, you can use the same fertilizer you have been using or switch to a fertilizer with little or no phosphorus but a higher rate of potassium. This might be something like 12-4-14 or 12-0-12. The most important thing to note is that; avoid fertilizer application to Bermuda grass during the winter.

Mowing

During the spring season or just after the danger of hard freezes has passed, it is important to mow your brown Bermuda grass lawn to remove as much dead top-growth as possible. In this regard, proper mowing techniques are necessary to keep Bermuda grass healthy and attractive. Mowing at the correct height increases the lawns density and also keeps the root system healthy. A healthy root system means the nutrients and water will be absorbed rather than wasted. Mowing at the correct height also help to keep weeds outs.

Bermuda grass should be cut at a height of about 5 inches. Do not mow below 5 inches as you are likely to damage grass rhizomes and stolons growing near the soil surface. Set your mower lower than normal at about 5 inches. Keep your mower blades sharp to prevent damage to grass during cutting. Damaged grass blades can become discolored due to nutrient deficiency.

Once you have determined the correct mowing height of your Bermuda grass, mow frequently and consistently. One of the worst things to do for a lawn is to allow the Bermuda grass to grow tall before mowing it again. If you allow your Bermuda to grow more than 5 inches, you will scalp your lawn by removing most of the green portion of the grass when you mow.

Grass clippings contain plant nutrients such as nitrogen and minerals. Leave clippings on the lawn to decompose and return nutrients to the soil. When you leave clippings on the lawn, you won’t have to fertilize as often or at all. Remove the clippings only if the amount is so excessive that clumps form or if appearance is important.

Watering/Irrigating

Bermuda grass is drought resistant and capable of surviving extended dry periods in a semi-dormant state. As a lawn grass, Bermuda requires weekly irrigation or watering so as to remain dark green, thick and lush. Also, water penetrates deeply into the soil, helping the roots grow down instead of creating a shallow foundation. A drought stricken Bermuda grass lawn will turn yellow and then tan on the other hand excess water can kill a poorly your Bermuda grass.

A lightly daily watering is all that is necessary while the grass is establishing. However, once the grass is established, the frequency of watering should be reduced to at least twice a week. You will also need to take into account recent rainfall when deciding how much water to apply.

Water your Bermuda grass lawn once every three days during the summer. Even during the hottest part of the year, most lawns do not need to be watered every day. In the winter, Bermuda grass goes dormant and does not require supplemental watering. The best time to water a lawn is in the morning, preferably before noon. This allows the grass to dry before nightfall, reducing the risk of disease.

Aeration

Aeration is the process of mechanically poking many holes in the soil. This allows water, oxygen and nutrients to better penetrate to the roots of your grass. Bermuda  grass lawns can be aerated any time during the growing season, as long as they are not suffering from drought, however, the best time to aerate Bermuda grass is in early summer, when the grass is growing rapidly and coming out strong. Aerating each year will improve the quality and consistency of your lawn’s growth. It can also be used to renovate areas like dry banks, poorly drained corners and compacted dog paths.

Aerating your Bermuda grass lawn begins by preparing the lawn. Ideally, you should water the lawn at least a day o two before aeration; you should add at least one inch of water to the soil to make it easier for the aerator to penetrate the soil and pull out the cores. Do not try to aerate a muddy or especially wet area though as that will just clog the machine.

Using a core aerator, move across the lawn in the same pattern that you would to mow the grass, taking care to cover the entire lawn. It is important not to remove the soil cores from the top of the grass. This will dissolve back into the ground after the first heavy rain and deposit beneficial microbes into the upper layer of soil, helping to breakdown organic matter and reducing excessive thatch.  After the process of aeration is complete, you can apply compost, peat moss or sand across the lawn to refill the holes, although this is not absolutely necessary.

Also Read: Different Types of Bamboo

Dethatching

Thatch is a collection of dead plant parts like stems and grass clippings that accumulate on the soil surface. Occasionally, Bermuda grass lawns will accumulate greater than 5 inches of thatch during the growing season. This is usually as a result of improper mowing or excessive fertilizing.

Bermuda grass requires to be cleared of that layer of thatch (dethatched) at least once a year in order to have a good look. Other than the unsightly, an overly thick layer of thatch on your lawn can lead to disease, weak roots and can even prevent water or fertilizer from reaching your soil. Bermuda grass should always be dethatched during the lawn’s growing season. This is usually during the late spring and early summer, when there are several weeks left for the grass to repair itself before its winter dormancy.

To remove thatch from your Bermuda grass lawn, you will need either a thatching rake or a vertical mower. A thatching rake works well from small lawns while a vertical mower works well for bigger lawns. Adjust the mowing blades depending on the thickness of the thatch layer. It is better to underestimate rather than overestimate the amount of thatch you need to remove. Too much dethatching can badly damage the lawn.

Weed control

Generally, lawns that have weeds often show signs of thinning and patchiness. Usually weeds sprout in Bermuda grass lawn, the moment their seeds find enough bare soil, moisture and light. This is usually the case for both perennial and annual weeds.

In as far as weed control in Bermuda grass lawn is concern; there are two types of products that can work effectively in this regard. They include pre-emergence and post-emergence weed killer.  Pre-emergence weed control products are usually applied before weed seeds germinate whereas post-emergence weed control products that usually include sprays and granules are applied when the weeds are young, tender and actively growing. When using weed control products, always make sure the product is approved for use on Bermuda grass lawn and follow the labeled directions.

Also Read: Different Types of Fern plants

Diseases

Bermuda grass is susceptible to a variety of fungal diseases including brown patch, dollar spot, leaf spot, phythium, fairly rings and spring dead spot. Whereas individual diseases appear at different time of the year (depending upon weather), it is almost impossible to predict when your lawn will be infected. In many case, a disease will come and go without you ever knowing it. Generally, fungal diseases appear as brown or damaged patches on the grass blade with smooth outlines. In case you notice your Bermuda grass has started developing patches, spray the entire lawn with a fungicide.

Insects And Pests

Occasionally, a nice thick Bermuda grass lawn will be home to crickets, beetles, grasshopper, warms and a variety of other insects. Some feed on grass blades; some feed on grass roots whereas others feed on each other, though this should never be worrisome since Bermuda grass especially hybrid variety usually grows faster than the average insect can eat.

Insects and pests damages on Bermuda grass usually appear as an irregular shaped patch of discolored or brown grass in a lawn. There are few classes of insects that can increase in population large enough with capacity to destroy your lawn within a few days. Such insects can be treated fairly easy with use of soil insecticide or natural insecticide products. Normalize treating your lawn against insects at least once a year. The best time for treatment of Bermuda grass lawn against insects is in the late July or early August.

Other insects that have a potential to cause trouble to your Bermuda grass lawn include:

• White grubs
• Armyworms
• Billbugs
• Mole crickets
• Chinch bugs
• Fire ants